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Like two High Templar Protoss merging to form an Archon, the third installment of the StarCraft 2 saga, StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void, will be comprised of two identities: that of an expansion, and that of a standalone game. In non-game jargon speak, this means that although Legacy of the Void will act as a continuation of the series' plot up to now, you'll be able to purchase and enjoy it regardless of whether or not you own Wings of Liberty and Heart of the Swarm.

Comparing the new game to an Archon unit is more accurate than you may think though, as the game will feature something called "Archon Mode," where two players cooperatively manage a single base as they face off against another duo of players doing the same.

Blizzard revealed the news during the opening ceremony for BlizzCon 2014, which is happening this weekend in Anaheim.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2014legacy-of-the-voidmacmy-life-for-aiurpcStarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmstarcraft-2-legacy-of-the-voidStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertySat, 08 Nov 2014 10:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/25/starcraft-2-back-to-school-sale-on-wings-of-liberty-heart-of-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/25/starcraft-2-back-to-school-sale-on-wings-of-liberty-heart-of-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/25/starcraft-2-back-to-school-sale-on-wings-of-liberty-heart-of-th/#comments
Is all that pesky learning getting in the way of your school year? Boy howdy, does StarCraft 2 have a deal for you. Through September 30, grab StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm for 25 percent off and Wings of Liberty for 50 percent off, and enjoy a 100 percent XP boost all week.

During the promo, players can also unlock portraits depicting Kerrigan, Raynor and Zeratul in high school yearbook-photo style, exclusive to the back-to-school special. The portraits are unlocked with the You Got Schooled achievement, earned by winning five games in any combination of Arcade, Custom, Ranked, Training, Unranked, or Versus AI online games.

So, hit the books. No, really - just take all your textbooks and smack them or something, and then go play StarCraft 2.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionback-to-schoolBlizzardpcstarcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyWed, 25 Sep 2013 15:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/starcraft-2-adds-spawning-system-its-not-as-gross-as-it-soun/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/starcraft-2-adds-spawning-system-its-not-as-gross-as-it-soun/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/starcraft-2-adds-spawning-system-its-not-as-gross-as-it-soun/#comments
Blizzard has instituted a spawning system in StarCraft 2, granting free access to gameplay features when moochers party up with players who have purchased the game.

When you jump into multiplayer, you play the most current version of the game owned by at least one person in the party. If you have the Starter Edition and you're playing with someone who has purchased StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, for instance, you'll both play Heart of the Swarm. The same goes for parties greater than two.

Spawning is being rolled out globally today. Not all regions have access to it yet, but Blizzard assures us it's in progress.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardpcspawningstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmStarCraft-2-Starter-EditionStarcraft-2-Wings-of-Libertystarter-editionTue, 04 Jun 2013 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/get-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-for-18-on-newegg/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/get-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-for-18-on-newegg/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/get-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-for-18-on-newegg/#commentsWhile Blizzard dropped the price of StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty to $20 on Battle.net until March 12, Newegg managed to top that price with a deal of its own. By entering the code STW311 at checkout, players can snag the game for $17.99 on the retailer's site.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentpcsaleStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertySun, 10 Mar 2013 19:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/blizzard-drops-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-to-20-until-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/blizzard-drops-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-to-20-until-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/blizzard-drops-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-to-20-until-march/#commentsBlizzard is selling the first part of its three-pronged assault of a sequel, StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, for half-off until March 12. You can get the game through Battle.net right now for $20.

Wings of Liberty focuses on the Terran faction (see: future humans) on the single-player campaign, saddled on the back of the series' popular multiplayer component. The second wave of the three-part RTS sequel is due on March 12, StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm. A recent multiplayer beta for Heart of the Swarm concluded on March 1, allowing those who pre-ordered and opted in a taste of the new multiplayer changes.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmacpcStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-Libertystarcraft-ii-wings-of-libertyMon, 04 Mar 2013 23:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/blizzard-celebrates-black-friday-with-diablo-3-starcraft-2-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/blizzard-celebrates-black-friday-with-diablo-3-starcraft-2-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/blizzard-celebrates-black-friday-with-diablo-3-starcraft-2-deal/#commentsBlizzard's Black Friday offer is sweet and simple: StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty and Diablo 3 are each $20 off, now through Monday, November 26. StarCraft 2 is $20, while Diablo 3 turns out to be $40. These deals are blowing directly through the Blizzard Store.

Other Blizzard wares, specifically in the World of Warcraft realm, can be found on the cheap at various retailers, including GameStop, Target, Best Buy and Amazon.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridayblack-friday-2012Blizzarddiablo-3holiday-2012pcStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyWed, 21 Nov 2012 01:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/watch-the-mlg-providence-national-championships-live-right-here/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/watch-the-mlg-providence-national-championships-live-right-here/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/watch-the-mlg-providence-national-championships-live-right-here/#comments
A roaring crowd, concession-stand popcorn and panicked cries for additional pylons can only mean one thing: It's pro-gaming season. The sound of furiously clicking mice can be heard for miles around in Providence, Rhode Island, where Major League Gaming's Pro Circuit National Championships are happening right now.

The greatest Starcraft 2 players from around the world have assembled and are putting on one hell of a show, which you can enjoy irrespective of your proximity to The Ocean State thanks to the embedded stream above. Jump past the break for the day's complete schedule, and peep the tournament bracket here.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MLGMLG-2011mlg-pro-circuitmlg-providenceprovidencestarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-Libertystarcraft-iiSun, 20 Nov 2011 14:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/watch-major-league-gamings-raleigh-championship-sunday-live-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/watch-major-league-gamings-raleigh-championship-sunday-live-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/watch-major-league-gamings-raleigh-championship-sunday-live-on/#comments
Smell that? That gentle, wafting scent in the breeze? That unique blend of concession-stand popcorn, USB and pwn? It's a specific, enticing fragrance that can only mean one thing: It's time for Major League Gaming finals, and you can watch it all live on Joystiq!

All day today, teams from around the globe will be competing for thousands of dollars in prizes across 4 games: Starcraft 2, Halo: Reach, Black Ops, and making its MLG debut, League of Legends. It's an exciting day for pro-gaming, so strap on your beer hat and big foam finger and head on through for the day's full schedule.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionblack-opsBlizzardBungiecall-of-duty-black-opshalo-reachleague-of-legendslivemajor-league-gamingmicrosoftMLGpcplaystationps3riot-gamesstarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyxboxSun, 28 Aug 2011 12:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/starcraft-2-starter-edition-replaces-wings-of-liberty-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/starcraft-2-starter-edition-replaces-wings-of-liberty-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/starcraft-2-starter-edition-replaces-wings-of-liberty-demo/#comments
The StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty demo has been replaced by StarCraft 2: Starter Edition. The new version allows players to play four levels of the campaign, the first two challenges, access the terran race in custom games and single-player vs. AI, and play four of the custom maps.

All campaign progress and achievements are saved to the player's Battle.net account, so they can pick up from right where they left off, if they decide to buy the full game. Already have a Battle.net account? You'll find the StarCraft 2: Starter Edition in Account Management under "Your Game Accounts." Who says drug dealers don't do house calls and make it easy to get hooked up anymore?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardmacpcStarcraft-2StarCraft-2-Starter-EditionStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyStarcraft-ii-Wings-of-LibertyWed, 03 Aug 2011 19:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/#comments
Strap on your beer-hats and huge foam fingers, e-sports fans, because Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday is under way, and you can catch all the fragging, pylon-constructing action right here on Joystiq. Championship matches for Starcraft 2, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops will take place all day long on 4 different streams, so make sure you've got enough overpriced concession-stand munchies to last you a while.

Head on through for the day's full schedule, and be sure to let us know how you feel about competitive gaming coverage on Joystiq, either in the comments or in the poll. This sort of post is a new jam for us, and if you like it, we'll do more!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anaheimcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-opschampionship-sundaycompetitive-gaminghalohalo-reachlive-streamlive-streamingmajor-league-gamingmicrosoftMLGpcplaystationpro-gamingps3starcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyxboxSun, 31 Jul 2011 16:37:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/blizzard-dota-still-on-the-way-has-undergone-some-massive-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/blizzard-dota-still-on-the-way-has-undergone-some-massive-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/blizzard-dota-still-on-the-way-has-undergone-some-massive-over/#commentsBlizzard Dota, the Defense of the Ancients-style official mod that was shown off at last year's BlizzCon, is still a work in progress, according to lead producer Chris Sigaty. The other three mods shown last year were released a little while ago to the community, but the Dota mod, which pits all kinds of Blizzard franchise characters up against each other in a real-time battle, needed a little extra work, apparently.

"We basically put it back up in the shop and did some massive overhauls to some things, which I'm not going to go into specific detail about," Sigaty told Joystiq at a press event last week. "But yeah, we are working on Blizzard Dota, and we do intend to launch it at or around the time of Heart of the Swarm, but the official details will be online later."

Will the mod eventually require the upcoming Heart of the Swarm expansion to play? Sigaty's got nothing yet: "We're not even talking about the business level decision of it at this point." But rest assured that, somewhere on Blizzard's Irvine, CA campus, there are still developers fighting over who'd win in a fight, Thrall, Diablo, or Tychus Findlay.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-dotachris-sigatydotamodsofficialpcStarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmstarcraft-2-wings-of-libertyTue, 31 May 2011 03:02:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-preview-kerrigan-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-preview-kerrigan-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-preview-kerrigan-again/#comments
When Blizzard announced that StarCraft 2 would be split into three different games years ago, there was quite a bit of weeping and gnashing of teeth -- lots of complaining that the new corporate entity of Activision Blizzard was triple-dipping our wallets. But time heals all wounds and in this case, the great reviews of the full-featured first title didn't hurt either.

So it may come as something of a surprise to be reminded that as much fun as StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty was, you've got two more campaigns coming your way. At a recent press event inside Blizzard HQ in Irvine, California, we got to take a look at two single-player missions from Heart of the Swarm, the first expansion pack-priced followup, focused on the popular Zerg race.

One note of warning before we begin: There are story elements revealed in these missions that will sorta, kinda spoil the plot of Wings of Liberty if you haven't finished it yet. If you aren't done with Jim Raynor's Terran campaign, play that and then come back. Otherwise, feel free to read on.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrian-kindreganchris-sigatyexpansionkaldirpcprotossstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmstarcraft-2-wings-of-libertyzergTue, 31 May 2011 03:01:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/blizzard-starcraft-2-marketplace-still-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/blizzard-starcraft-2-marketplace-still-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/blizzard-starcraft-2-marketplace-still-coming/#comments
During BlizzCon 2009, Blizzard revealed plans to put a shopping interface inside StarCraft 2, which would allow players to purchase user-created maps, with revenue shared between Blizzard and the creator. The game came out in July 2010, sans marketplace, and that feature is still missing.

During an interview with MTV Multiplayer, Blizzard's Frank Pearce asserted that the feature is still on the way. "But it's not necessarily something we have a specific timeline for," he said, "which is unfortunate because one of the things that we've found is, especially from our learnings from World of WarCraft, is that these audiences that play these games are very, very passionate and want to experience lots and lots of content. With the StarCraft 2 client and the StarCraft 2 map editor and the Battle.net platform, it creates an opportunity for the community to serve itself with content, if the mechanisms are there."

To be fair, if it did have a timeline, it would be a Blizzard timeline, and therefore could only be specific to the year. Approximately.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardfrank-pearcemarketplacepcstarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyUGCuser-created-contentThu, 17 Mar 2011 16:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/starcraft-2-dota-left-4-dead-bejeweled-scenarios/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/starcraft-2-dota-left-4-dead-bejeweled-scenarios/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/starcraft-2-dota-left-4-dead-bejeweled-scenarios/#comments
We thought StarCraft 2was a little confusing before, but imagine how perplexed we were to look inside the BlizzCon program and see descriptions of upcoming maps for the game that include references to Bejeweled, Defense of the Ancients and ... Iron Chef? Here's the text from Shacknews:

Aiur Chef takes you to a remote area of the planet Aiur, where aspiring zealot chefs skilled in the arts of cooking and killing compete for the title of Executor Chef. Test your wits in the puzzler StarJeweled, which challenges you to match jewels according to color to gain energy, train troops and crush your enemy's base. You'll also be able to team up with a friend to fend off a new strain of zerg infestation in Left 2 Die (a new co-op take on the StarCraft II campaign mission "Outbreak"), as well as wage war with the most powerful heroes in the universe in Blizzard All-Stars, an explosive new multiplayer scenario.

First Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright team up, and now this? Apologies to Powerman 5000, but this is what it is indeed like when worlds collide.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2010defense-of-the-ancientsleft-4-deadStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyFri, 22 Oct 2010 15:07:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/blizzcon-2010-opening-ceremony-liveblog/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/blizzcon-2010-opening-ceremony-liveblog/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/blizzcon-2010-opening-ceremony-liveblog/#comments
BlizzCon 2010 is upon us and, as is customary, Blizzard will use its Opening Ceremony keynote to kick off the event - of course, WoW Insider already kicked things off last night at its annual meetup, but let's not stray too far from the purpose of this post.

Things get underway, right here, at 11AM PT (we've posted handy alternative time zones for you below). Check back then for all the latest from Blizzard: from the impending WoW expansion, Cataclysm, to future StarCraft 2 installments, to the much-anticipated Diablo 3. Maybe something about that long-in-development unnamed MMO? Well, that would be nice, wouldn't it?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzCon-2010CataclysmDiablo-3macpcStarCraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyWorld-of-WarcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmFri, 22 Oct 2010 14:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/starcraft-2-as-a-third-person-zombie-shooter/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/starcraft-2-as-a-third-person-zombie-shooter/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/starcraft-2-as-a-third-person-zombie-shooter/#comments
With StarCraft 2 out in homes, mixing it up on over a million motherboards, the modding community's efforts are finally bearing fruit with the Galaxy Map Editor. This latest mod, which turns the real-time strategy game into a third-person shooter, comes courtesy of Denmark's own Mads. Rush past the break and check it out.

Blizzard just trumpeted the sales numbers for StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, the first installment in its long-time-coming sequel to the strategy classic. The numbers: "a day-one sales milestone of more than 1 million copies sold worldwide" and "1.5 million copies in its first 48 hours." The context: It's already the "best-selling PC game of 2010 within its first 24 hours of availability" and now holds the "record for fastest-selling strategy game of all time." With a global launch spanning five continents and over a dozen countries, not to mention a dozen years of anticipation, solid sales were to be expected.

A source inside Blizzard confirmed the information with Joystiq, saying that approximately 1.2m StarCraft 2 accounts had been activated - not necessarily sold! - worldwide as of 4pm PT on the 28th, less than two days after the game went on sale. Roughly 620K of those accounts were in the US. Now that we're a full week out from launch, it's anyone's guess how many copies have been sold by now ... though we imagine if sales keep up, it won't take long for Blizzard to share its success again.

If any other company but Blizzard had simply put new graphics over the same old interface, it would have resulted in an interesting novelty at best. But within moments of putting my hands on StarCraft 2 during the open beta, it was clear this was no mere novelty. It's been more than a decade since I played the original, but the sequel feels both instantly fresh and familiar. It's not a game that will be forgotten in the rush of the coming months' releases. It feels timeless.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battle.net-2.0battlenetblizzardmacpcstarcraftStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-Libertystarcraft-ii-wings-of-libertyWed, 28 Jul 2010 13:31:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-hands-on/#comments
While some of you may be waiting on line at this very moment, queued up for the midnight launch of the much-anticipated first installment of StarCraft 2, reading this post from your phone (or the Joystiq iPhone app?), your pals at Joystiq got our copy a little early. And not just any copy, but the truly fancy Collector's Edition.

Now, hold on, before you get angry let us explain! Sure, Blizzard sent us a copy so we could get some early time with the game, even if it is just a few hours. But instead of doing that, we spent the entire day photographing the box and all the included goodies - like the art book, the comic, the guest passes, the dog tag slash USB drive - and then painstakingly hand-assembling the below gallery, just for you. So while you're waiting on line, reading this post, you know just what it is you've got to look forward to. Still angry? We thought not.

Not waiting on line anywhere? No worries, we'll be giving this bad boy away soon enough. Check out some more StarCraft 2 links from Big Download after the break.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardpcStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyMon, 26 Jul 2010 21:29:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/starcraft-2-tv-spot-wants-you-to-know-war-is-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/starcraft-2-tv-spot-wants-you-to-know-war-is-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/starcraft-2-tv-spot-wants-you-to-know-war-is-coming/#comments
Blizzard wants the masses to know that something big is on the horizon -- even if this extremely pretty CGI teaser airing on TV might have people thinking StarCraft 2 is really a sci-fi movie. For the rest of us, it's a taste of the epic cinematics we'll be treated to when the game ships July 27.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardBlizzardCommercialpcStarCraftStarCraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyTVFri, 11 Jun 2010 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/starcraft-2-beta-extended-to-june-7/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/starcraft-2-beta-extended-to-june-7/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/starcraft-2-beta-extended-to-june-7/#comments
As if your Zerg rushes needed any more fine-tuning, Blizzard has gone ahead and announced an extension to the StarCraft 2beta, to June 7. Originally set to conclude on Monday, this gives players an extra week to see which race is the most dominant. Protip: it's totally the Protoss.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betablizzardblizzard-entertainmentstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-2-betaStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyFri, 28 May 2010 15:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/03/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-zerg-rushing-retail-july-27/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/03/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-zerg-rushing-retail-july-27/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/03/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-zerg-rushing-retail-july-27/#comments
You know all those summer plans you have? Well StarCraft 2's first piece -- the human-based Wings of Liberty -- was just given a July 27 release date for "stores throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Mexico, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau." What, no Kyrgyzstan?

Allergic to stores? Unfortunately, Blizzard won't be offering the game directly to consumers through its website until "shortly after retail launch." Seems like you might wanna rethink those summer plans, eh? Remember, this is Blizzard, so ... maybe not.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentq3-2010release-datestarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-2-wings-of-libertyMon, 03 May 2010 17:28:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/blizzards-dustin-browder-talks-starcraft-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/blizzards-dustin-browder-talks-starcraft-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/blizzards-dustin-browder-talks-starcraft-2/#comments
Dustin Browder isn't just the lead designer on Blizzard's StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty -- he's also in the game! Well, sort of. According to a Blizzard spokesperson, "There are a few examples of Blizzard employees making it into the game. The portrait of the Vulture pilot was based on the likeness of Jason Huck, a level designer. Brian Sousa, a senior 3D artist was the inspiration for the regular Goliath pilot. A running joke amongst the team is that Brian and Dustin look similar enough to be brothers - so the extension of that joke was to make the mercenary goliath pilot (Spartan Company) look like Dustin."

So there you have it. If you want your face in a multimillion dollar game, just get a job working on it. Easy enough, right? We talked to Dustin about StarCraft 2 last year, and this time he gives us more details about the development of this eagerly awaited title, and not just his vanity unit portrait. He discusses multiplayer plans, balancing, Blizzard's hardcore fans, and more, just beyond the break.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardDustin-BrowderstarcraftStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertySun, 02 May 2010 17:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/hands-on-new-starcraft-2-single-player-missions/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/hands-on-new-starcraft-2-single-player-missions/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/hands-on-new-starcraft-2-single-player-missions/#commentsclick to enlarge
Blizzard has been handing out Starcraft 2 beta keys like free lunch, but it's not just for the benefit of starved-craft fans. "Oh, we don't think of this as a demo," Blizzard's Dustin Browder told me during a recent studio visit, "It's a beta test." So-called testers are contributing piles of feedback data, which has led to nine game patches so far, with more surely in the works. "The Archon has been on my chopping block for months," Browder muttered, referring to the powerful Protoss ground unit.

The focus of my recent visit to Blizzard HQ was not to talk beta, however. It was to preview three new single-player missions from StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty. In doing so, I learned more about how the developer is incorporating at least one other race into the Terran-centric game and tried out some new game-altering mechanics and the new tech upgrade process.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardhands-onStarcraftstarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertystrategyFri, 23 Apr 2010 16:29:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/new-starcraft-2-gameplay-footage-this-is-not-a-drill/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/new-starcraft-2-gameplay-footage-this-is-not-a-drill/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/new-starcraft-2-gameplay-footage-this-is-not-a-drill/#comments It's a Laser Drill! Check out the awesome power of this anti-Zerg Rush weapon, featured in this new footage from the most eagerly awaited "Adults Only" game in South Korea. Don't worry -- it's just StarCraft 2 and the video's totally Safe For Work.

We'll have our hands-on impressions of three new single-player missions posted later today. In the meantime, enjoy the gameplay video above and the new screenshots in the gallery below.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardgameplay-footageStarcraftstarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyvideoWings-of-LibertyFri, 23 Apr 2010 09:29:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-announc/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-announc/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-announc/#commentsClick to enlarge e-pic
Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime calls it an "epic" Collector's Edition, fit for celebrating the long-awaited return of real-time strategy behemoth, StarCraft. The special StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty set includes: a 2GB USB thumb drive which mimics protagonist Jim Raynor's dog tag (and comes loaded with the original StarCraft and its Brood War expansion); a 176-page art book; a behind-the-scenes DVD with interviews, cinematics and developer commentary; a soundtrack CD; a prequel issue in the StarCraft comic series; a mini Thor in-game pet for World of Warcraft; and "exclusive" Battle.net content, such as alternate character decals, skins and profile portraits.

The space treasure trove will set you back $100 -- a cost that is likely to generate much less discussion than the price of the regular edition (picture), which will retail for the atypical suggested price of $60. Blizzard also intends to distribute the game in digital format shortly after launch.

Of course, if you've become enamored with StarCraft II's ongoing beta as we have, you're ready to exchange every one of your Liberty Dollars for the privilege of knowing the release date. That, Blizzard says, "will be announced in the coming weeks."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardcollectors-editionmacmike-morhaimeretailrtsstarcraft-2starcraft-2-wings-of-libertyThu, 08 Apr 2010 14:18:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/starcraft-2-release-still-targeted-for-first-half-of-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/starcraft-2-release-still-targeted-for-first-half-of-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/starcraft-2-release-still-targeted-for-first-half-of-2010/#comments
The StarCraft II beta is currently underway and already has us pining for the full release. As for exactly when that will happen, all we've known is that Blizzard plans to release the game in the first half of 2010. According to the latest BlizzCast, that's still the plan. During the podcast, production director Chris Sigaty stated that the beta should last "three to five months" and added that Blizzard is "still targeting the first half of this year."

With a three to five month beta window, that puts the end of the test somewhere between May and July. Of course, there's no telling how soon the game will release after the close of the beta, but hopefully it won't take too long. The universe won't save itself, after all.

Finally, for those out there lucky enough to be in the beta, you should know that the first patch is now available. You can check out the list of changes on the Battle.net forums.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-2-betaStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyFri, 26 Feb 2010 15:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/interview-starcraft-2-lead-producer-chris-sigaty/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/interview-starcraft-2-lead-producer-chris-sigaty/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/interview-starcraft-2-lead-producer-chris-sigaty/#comments
Chris Sigaty has been a faithful Blizzard employee for thirteen years and served as the lead tester on the original Starcraft. He's worked his way up the ladder on various titles, and is now hauling the reins of three different races as the lead producer on the followup Starcraft 2. Additionally, he's the rhythm guitarist in Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain and has a rockin' metal head of hair.

We sat down with him recently to talk about the much anticipated sequel, which became a trilogy somewhere along the yellow brick road of development. Blizzard is still hoping to release Starcraft 2: Wings of Libertylater this year, featuring the Terran single-player version of the game along with all three races in the multiplayer that you've come to love like a dear friend ... a dear friend that sucks up all of your free time and enjoys kicking you in the ribs when you're down.

Read on for all the Starcraft 2 goodies we could squeeze out of him, and find out why this title is poised to glue more butts to seats very soon.